June 11th 2015

Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) which questioned the SEZ coming up on Bellandur lakebed through a PIL has withdrawn the case from High Court, with liberty to refile the case after the National Green Tribunal verdict.

The High Court earlier dismissed the PIL filed by Environment Support Group (ESG) on road widening.

Following a Supreme Court directive, the Transport Commissioner has a sent a proposal to the State government calling for helmets to be made mandatory for pillion riders.

BBMP administrator T M Vijay Bhaskar had given a deadline of May 31st to electrical contractors to ensure that streetlights in the city were working. He has now started imposing fines on the electrical contractors for failure to repair the streetlights.

A study by the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has revealed that 54 per cent of lakes in Bengaluru have been encroached upon for construction activities or have become dumping yards.

According to a recent analysis report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, pollution levels in Bengaluru have increased manifold. The average annual Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels in Bengaluru is over 200 per cent higher than the national air quality standards prescribed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Ameet S Deshpande, a student of Magnolia Maaruti Public School and FIITJEE, Bengaluru, has been selected for the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).

The High Court has given liberty to the petitioners to file a fresh petition after the case before National Green Tribunal is disposed. The Supreme Court stayed the fine imposed upon the developers. What else is going on, related to Bellandur-Agara SEZ project? Read: Citizens withdraw PIL on Mantri SEZ from High Court.

Support India’s Under-23 Ultimate team

Team India at their first training camp at Chennai. Pic: Varsha Yeshwant Kumar

For the first ever time, India is set to send a team to London for the Under-23 Ultimate Frisbee World Championships. This is the story of the team and how you can help them on their way. Read: The Ultimate road to London.

Since 2012, a commuter has been picking up nails that are being strewn over Bellandur Outer Ring Road by mischief-makers. In a telephonic interview with Citizen Matters, Benny shares why he does, what he does. Read: Fishing for nails on tarmac.

Living by the lake

An IISc report says restricting sewage inflow into lakes and expediting lake rejuvenation are required to protect water bodies in Bengaluru. The report also includes findings from the study of water samples from Varthur lake. Read: Experts recommend urgent steps to save lakes.

Plant a tree on Friday, participate in a clean-up drive on Saturday and cycle on Sunday – all this, beside a lake. Read: Lakeside events this weekend.

Food for thought

Ashwin Mahesh was in Jakarta for the World Cities Summit. He compares the city with Bengaluru, and what’s interesting is that the two cities have several things in common. Read: Notes from Jakarta.

Voices

Despite being one of the popular addresses in town, the condition of the road and footpaths in Hayes Road in Richmond Town is a mess. A resident of the area shares her concerns. Read: It’s a death trap on Hayes Road.

Music matters

Chitra Srikrishna says that one of the simplest ways to identify and appreciate a classical raga is by listening to multiple songs in the raga by different artistes. Here’s an insight into Darbari Kanada.